Hi, I’m Christine, Manager of the U12/13s and U12s Indigenous Team. We’ve been fortunate enough to have 6 of our athletes from the U12s NSW1 Indigenous Schoolgirls selected to travel overseas to represent U12s Australian Indigenous Budgies Netball Team in the International Netball Festivals. 

Our athletes have worked hard the last few years, finishing 3rd in the National Indigenous Schoolgirls Championships in January this year. This was an amazing achievement as it was the first time all team members had competed in a State Competition for the first time!

We’re thrilled our athletes have such an amazing opportunity to compete at this level and are looking for sponsorship to ensure that everyone selected is able to achieve their full potential.

Meet Our Team

International Netball Festival - New Zealand - September 2024

Christine Weatherall – Manager

Christine began Managing Junior Sports teams in 2009

• ­Junior Rugby League Manager for Redfern All Blacks (2009-2024)
• ­NSW1 Echidnas Indigenous Schoolgirls Netball Manager (2024)
• ­Selected as Team Official to manage the U12s Australian Indigenous Budgies Netball Team travelling to NZ.

Koorisa Peni Weatherall - National Indigenous U12/13s Team

Koorisa began playing netball when she was 6 years old.

Achievements

• ­2024 representing Samoan NSW Netball U12s Team
• ­2024 School Representative Netball Team
• ­2024 selected for the Budgies Indigenous Schoolgirls Netball U12/13s Team
• ­2024 representing Campbelltown District Netball Association U12s Team in Junior State Titles
• ­2024 Echidnas NSW1 U12s Indigenous Schoolgirls (3rd National Indigenous Schoolgirls Championships)
• ­2023 Represented Googars Hotshots U15s in the Koori Netball Tournament
• ­2023 Represented Campbelltown Norths U12s in the Māori Legacy Netball Carnival
• ­2023 School Representative Netball Team (4th in Regionals)
• ­2023 Netball NSW Schools Cup Competition (5/6 Competitive Division)
• ­2023 U12s Netball Premiership (1st)
• ­2023 U11s Represented Campbelltown District Netball Association Development Squad
• ­2022 Netball NSW Schools Cup Competition (2nd)
• ­2022 Represented U10s Campbelltown District Netball Association Development Squad
• ­2019 U9s Netball Premiership (1st)

Awards

• ­2023 Players player Award
• ­2023 Coaches Award
• ­2022 Coaches Award
• ­2021 Players player Award

Koorisa also began her umpiring career in 2022, and gained her official umpiring accreditation in 2024

Jannali Walker - National Indigenous U12/13s Team

Jannali began playing netball in Coonamble Netball Association but unfortunately the Competition was dissolved due to low numbers. As the closest netball competition is located in Dubbo, 2 hours from her hometown, Jannali also competes in League Tag in which she has consistently achieved.

Achievements

• ­2024 Echidnas NSW1 U12s Indigenous Schoolgirls (3rd National Indigenous Schoolgirls Championships)
• ­Zone Athletics Carnival 100m sprint (5th), 200m sprint (5th), 150m sprint & Shot-Put (18th)
• Zone Cross Country (39th)

Awards

• ­2019 Most Improved Award
• ­2019 Coaches Award

Other Sporting Awards

• ­2023 Most Improved (League Tag)
• ­2023 Hardest Worked (League Tag)
• 2022 Most Consistent Worker (League Tag)

Maalaa Mclennan - National Indigenous U12/13s Team

Maalaa started in the Net Set Go program in 2021. This year Maalaa is coaching the Karuah Pearls Net Set Go U8s team.

Achievements

• ­2024 Participated in Netball NSW Inaugural Youth Forum
• ­2024 Plays Netball for Karuah Pearls Intermediate 2
• ­2024 Representing Port Stephens Rep U12s in Junior State Titles
• ­2023 U12s Karuah Pearls (Premiership)
• ­2023 Represented Karuah Public school Team.
• ­2023 Represented Port Stephens Zone Team
• ­2023 Represented Karuah Pearls in the Koori Netball Tournament (4th place)
• 2023 Represented Port Stephens U11s Rep development Team.
• ­2022 U11s Karuah Pearls (Grand Finalist Silver Medal)
• ­2022 Represented Karuah Public School Team
• ­2021 Played for Karuah Pearls Netball Club Net Set Go Inaugural Team
• Awards
• ­2024 Budgies Sportsmanship Award
• ­2023 Selected in Hunter Region Top 20 Players
• Coaching
• ­2023 Karuah Pearls Net Set Go U8s Team

Maalaa has also competed at a Representative level in Athletics in both sprinting and high jump

Stella Thomas - National Indigenous U12s Team

Stella has been playing netball since she was 4 years old

Achievements

• ­2024 Selected for the Budgies Indigenous Schoolgirls Netball U12s Team
• ­2024 Echidnas NSW1 U12s Indigenous Schoolgirls (3rd National Indigenous Schoolgirls Championships)
• ­2024 Representing Cornubia Park Netball Association U12s team in Junior State Titles
• ­2023 Selected in the Armidale District Netball Association U12s Rep Team
• ­2022 Represented her school in the Netball Gala Team
• ­2022 Captained the Anaiwan Iwatas at the Newcastle Koori Netball Carnival
• 2022 Represented Armidale District Netball Association U11s Development Squad
• ­2022 Captained PLC Armidale Netball Team (Division Runner-Ups)

Awards

• ­2024 Coaches Player Award
• ­2023 Received Player of the Match
• ­2022 Received Player of the Match

Other Sporting Achievements

• 2023 Swimming Age Champion (2nd)

Christine Peni Weatherall - National Indigenous U12s Team

Christine began playing netball when she was 6 years old.

Achievements

• ­2024 elected for the Budgies Indigenous Schoolgirls Netball U12s Team
• 2024 Echidnas NSW1 U12s Indigenous Schoolgirls (3rd National Indigenous Schoolgirls Championships)
• ­2023 School Representative Netball team (4th in Regionals)
• ­2023 Netball NSW Schools Cup Competition (5/6 Competitive Division)
• ­2022 Netball NSW Schools Cup Competition (2nd)
• ­2022 U11Bs Netball Premiership (1st)

Awards

• ­2023 Players Player Award
• ­2022 Coaches Award

Other Sporting Achievements

• ­2023 Rugby League Grand Finalists
• ­2023 Athletics Carnival Zone 100m (15th), 200m (20th), Shotput (4th)
• ­2023 Zone Cross Country (31st)
• ­2022 Rugby League Grand Finalists
• 2022 Player of the Match (Rugby League Grand Final)
• ­2022 Zone Cross Country (43rd)
• ­2022 Zone Athletics Carnival 100m (14th), 150m (12th), 200m (17th), Shotput (6th)

Other Sporting Awards

• ­2022 Player of the Match (Rugby League Grand Final)
• 2022 Coaches Award (Rugby League)

International Netball Festival - Fiji - December 2024

Jessica Donovan - National Indigenous U12s Team

Jessica is a newcomer to netball only starting in 2023. She has previously competed at high levels in gymnastics for the past 2 years.

Achievements

• 2024 Echidnas NSW1 U12s Indigenous Schoolgirls (3rd National Indigenous Schoolgirls Championships)
• 2023 Represented Kinkii Netball Club at the Charlestown Koori Netball Carnival.

Awards

• 2024 Most Improved Player Award NSW1 U12s Indigenous Schoolgirls Team

Other Sporting Achievements

• ­Gymnastics Regional Championships
• Gymnastics Country Championships

Our athletes are excited to continue representing their country and play in a high-level competition against other talented athletes. On a personal note, all the girls are also excited to travel overseas for the first time and meet other netball players from around the world.

 As parents, we would love to continue to encourage our girls in their sporting achievements and enable them to take opportunities to compete in high-level sporting competitions. Unfortunately, each of the families live in small country towns and are struggling during this cost-of-living crisis.

The International Netball Festival is a 10-day Competition at $4000 per person. Costs include flights, accommodation, meals, and cultural experiences. This does not cover their uniform and other expenses such as their passport applications.

In total we are seeking $28000 for the 6 athletes and their Manager.